CR-1 Chicago as point of entry...how did it go?

[greeneclipse 0]

Can anyone who as been through Chicago as their point of entry (for CR-1) share their story...

my wife will be coming soon and I want to give her some info. as to what she will go through.

thanks

[YuAndDan 153]

We came through there last year K-1.

There are 2 lines, one for immigrants and visitors, and the other for Citizens and Residents.

You go through the Immigrants and visitors, and see the POE officer, they take the brown envelope, and inspect it's contents, ask a few questions take a fingerprint and a picture and welcome you to the USA.

They should stamp passport of a CR-1 visa holder with I-551 stamp, making passport into a temp green-card.

After seeing the immigrations officer, you will collect your baggage and then go through Customs where they may inspect you baggage and then send you on to either your domestic flight, or you leave the terminal. If Domestic flight you will recheck the baggage and have to got through security to re-enter the domestic wings of the terminal.

We flew United from China to Chicago and United Domestic in the USA, United re-checks the baggage just as you leave customs, so do not have to carry baggage all the way to the domestic terminals.

[YuAndDan 153]

You can also find a lot of reviews here: http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/poereviews.php

[Mona Lisa 0]

I entered in O`Hare international airport in june past. There are two lines: one for resident and another for turists, students, workes. She has to take the resident line. I remember I entered in turist line and my sister in law entered in resident line, there she asked what could be the right line for me ( the line was long, it explain she arrived on the cabine first), then I moved to another line and when I arrived on the cabine, he asked my passport, asked how many years i was married, the adress I was going and he asked me the brown envelope, after that he gave me the stamp and put a card inside my passport, after that I went to take my baggage, after there were two security guard, and they asked about one paper I had completed inside the plane, he made me few questions and one that I coudnt forget: " what was my propose to be there" I answered "I came to live with my husband" and then he left me go.

Good luck for you two

Edited January 17, 2008 by Mona Lisa

[simple_male 1]

I entered in O`Hare international airport in june past. There are two lines: one for resident and another for turists, students, workes. She has to take the resident line. I remember I entered in turist line and my sister in law entered in resident line, there she asked what could be the right line for me ( the line was long, it explain she arrived on the cabine first), then I moved to another line and when I arrived on the cabine, he asked my passport, asked how many years i was married, the adress I was going and he asked me the brown envelope, after that he gave me the stamp and put a card inside my passport, after that I went to take my baggage, after there were two security guard, and they asked about one paper I had completed inside the plane, he made me few questions and one that I coudnt forget: " what was my propose to be there" I answered "I came to live with my husband" and then he left me go.

Good luck for you two

Chicago O'Hare was my wife's POE 15-month ago. It was good. She was told what the conditional green card is and she needs to remove conditions in about 2 years, etc.

[rjp44 1]

Thanks for the reports everyone. We'll be using O'Hare as our POE when we return.

[greeneclipse 0]

thanks....so is anyone sure which line she should wait in?

resident or visitor?

[tom&tata 2]

O'Hare was my POE too. With my CR-1, I think I used the visitor line. Both resident/citizen & visitor lines were long wait anyway, so I choose visitor line. You will go to the a small office where you are processed (stamp/endorse the visa & take the brown envelope). I was asked to confirm about the address & was told about the conditional status & removal of conditions too.

If you see officer directing the traffic, you can always ask them.

[Coco&Kitten 42]

Hi!

I entered Chicago last November on a CR-1 visa and I went through the citizen and resident line. They look at your visa and then they tell you to go to a separated area where an officer opens the brown envelope and looks at the documents. It was really easy and fast for me, no questions were asked.

Kitten